Talent and Experience Move TMAF Forward

Three Houston physicians, a Tyler volunteer, and a distinguished professor at UT Austin were elected to serve as officers on the TMA Foundation Board of Trustees. The officers began their terms in May during TexMed 2021.

• Michael E. Speer, MD, a Houston board-certified neonatologist in practice for 45 years and a TMA past president, will serve a two-year term as TMAF president. He also is a former chair of the Texas Medical Association Board of Trustees. Dr. Speer is a member of Harris County Medical Society and has served on its executive board and as president. Throughout his career, Dr. Speer has been active in the Texas Pediatric Society, also serving as the American Academy of Pediatrics Texas Chapter president. The society honored him with the Charles W. Daeschner Jr., MD, Lifetime Achievement Award in 2015. Dr. Speer is a professor of pediatrics and medical ethics at Baylor College of Medicine.

• Carla F. Ortique, MD, a board-certified Houston obstetrician-gynecologist in practice for 26 years, was elected to a two-year term as vice president. She cares for patients at The Women’s Specialist of Houston at Texas Children’s Hospital. Dr. Ortique represents the Harris County Medical Society in the TMA House of Delegates and is a member of TMA’s Council on Science and Public Health. She also is a consultant to and former chair of the TMA Committee on Reproductive, Women’s and Perinatal Health. Dr. Ortique has served as a member of TMA’s Committee on Child and Adolescent Health and Patient-Physician Advocacy Committee.

• Clifford K. Moy, MD, DLFAPA, a Houston board-certified psychiatrist and medical management physician in practice for 32 years, will serve a two-year term as treasurer . Currently, he is behavioral health medical director at TMF Health Quality Institute. He served five years – four as senior examiner – on the Malcolm Baldridge National Quality Award Board of Examiners. Dr. Moy is a former speaker of the TMA House of Delegates. He has served on the TMA Council on Medical Education, Committee on Physician Distribution and Healthcare Access, and Committee on Health Careers. He also is a past chair of the American Medical Association Council on Long Range Planning and Development.

• Debbie Pitts, a Tyler volunteer, was elected to a two-year term as secretary. She has been a member of the TMA Alliance and her local Smith County Medical Society Alliance for 34 years, serving as president of both organizations. She also has served as a TMAA district director, and as vice president for community health and for communications. She has served on the boards of local nonprofit organizations, including Tyler Day Nursery, Parents Anonymous, and Historic Tyler. Ms. Pitts also is an elder at First Presbyterian Church. She is married to Paul Pitts, MD, a Tyler pediatrician. 

• Steven H. Kelder, MPH, PhD, was elected to a one-year term as Executive Committee member-at-large. He is the Beth Toby Grossman Distinguished Professor of Spirituality and Health and professor in the Department of Epidemiology, Human Genetics, and Environmental Health at The University of Texas School of Public Health, Austin Regional Campus. He is co-director of the Michael & Susan Dell Center for Healthy Living. Dr. Kelder is one of the lead investigators for CATCH, a research-based program that guides schools, families and children in the process of being healthy. He also is a former research fellow at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, working in development of the School Health Index.

In addition to the new officers, TMAF board also welcomed three new members this year: 

• Gary Floyd, MD, Roanoke, TMA president-elect, serves on the TMAF Finance Committee.
• Ashanti Dunmeyer, MD, Georgetown, TMA Resident and Fellow Section representative, serves on the TMAF Development Committee.
• Parker Mitchell, TMA Medical Student Section representative, is a member of the TMAF Grants Committee.